The Pack Girl's Retribution (Sequel to The Pack's Girl)

Time

Lyra met with me later and told me she'd let me know when it was time for us to go.

But I found myself increasingly impatient. Agitated enough to spend half the night pacing.

Every night for the last sevennight.

And I knew that Hunter had been sneaking beyond the wall under the tenuous guise that the Alpha had given us permission to do so, though he'd not condoned it yet.

It's a dangerous game for Hunter. And I was often awake worrying for him until he got home.

Looking weary and exhausted and flopping into his bed miserably.

Indicating to me, he'd not yet found the house I so desperately needed to see.

Come on. I pleaded Heavenward. Where is it?

I was sure that if Hunter couldn't find it, no one could.

***

HUNTER

Hunter had been sneaking beyond the wall in the evenings to search for the house as Vanna Rae had asked. Knowing that he was leaving half the wall abandoned every time he did so and risking Draven's wrath or banishment. But he couldn't deny Vanna Rae's desperate plea.

The same as he could deny her nothing else.

He drew a long breath as he again worked his

way back to the first place Racer had said he'd seen her before Hunter and Vanquish had pushed her toward the Asara Wall. Toward safety.

He worked through the trees more carefully than he had the time before. Lowering his bare feet slowly to ensure he stepped on no valuable evidence of where she'd been. He wove through the trees in a broad perimeter. Stepping carefully and moving the leaves with his toes. Working further North than he had in the past. Hoping that Racer may've been off on his estimation of the original location.

As he walked, he caught a faint whiff of a feminine scent. He drew a long, slow breath. Lifting his head to take it in fully. Going very still, he focused his senses on that meager smell. Certain that he was catching some remaining scent of his mate. He moved methodically toward it. Finding a bit of gray root curling out from under a layer of Fall leaves like a crooked finger. On the sharp knuckle he saw a bit of blood and strands of long blonde hair.

"Vanna..." He murmured. Dropping to his knees and lowering over the old blood, he inhaled and confirmed what he was already suspecting. He lifted his head and looked straight up. Seeing what may've looked like a narrow path through clustered trees, heading further North.

Working his way that direction, he was careful to track his course by ripping bits of bark on the trees to signal his path.

It was a mere hour from sunup when he came into view of the crumbling structure. A two-story home which would've looked like a regal family home once with a complete wrap around deck. Windows with sugar glass completely surrounding it to allow for a full view around the home.

Hunter stepped through the entryway and shoved the creaking door aside to see a bright room. Lit from cracked and broken windows on every wall. The light framed a handsome square breakfast table. It was like entering Vanna Rae's haven. Hunter yearned to snoop on the top floors and see what he could learn of his mysterious mate from inspecting the home.

He decided against telling Vanna what he'd found. Wanting to do a further inspection of the house and to verify that there were no strays living in the house before he brought her here.

Upon entering the Hayden Cottage, Hunter was met by Vanna climbing down to the base floor to give him a long look. Her brows drawn together hopefully.

In that moment, Hunter was highly tempted to confide to her what he'd found but decided against it until he was certain she'd be safe visiting.

But Vanna had different ideas. After a long study, her face eased in relief. "You've found it."

Hunter gave a half-hearted shake of his head.

She reared her head back, tossing her hair over her shoulder and cocking her hip and putting a hand on it in such a way that he knew he was in grave trouble. She wasn't buying a word of what he was selling.

"Yes, you have. Tell me where."

"Vanna Rae..."

"Hunter, don't you lie to me!" Her tone turned stern. "Why wouldn't you want to show me?"

Guilt flared through him as he thought about how he'd hoped to snoop around before bringing her there. And questioned if that was more the reason, he didn't want to tell her yet than that he was concerned about her safety.

But a niggling little voice in his mind said that was untrue. Despite that deep curiosity he was worried about stray NightHunters and concerned about trying to sneak Vanna beyond the wall to begin with.

***

VANNA RAE

Hunter was lying to me. And I was determined to find out why.

And where my home is. I felt reserved that my mate was hiding things from me. But was still incredibly hopeful that seeing my former residence would bring back further memories that might help me piece together my past and find my family.

When Hunter left that night, I was a shadow on his heels. I'd been careful to act normal as I ensured he and Racer had food for work tonight. And kissed them each goodbye.

It wasn't hard to deceive Hunter into thinking I had no stubborn intentions to follow him, as he was partially absentminded anyway. Clearly lost in thought about what he'd discovered.

What he was determined to keep hidden from me.

I stepped when Hunter stepped. Taking longer strides to put my feet in his tracks. As we reached the edge of the wall, I was creeping tree to tree.

He scanned both directions before cracking the broad wooden door, enough to slip through.

I waited a heartbeat then mimicked his maneuvers. Half afraid that when I eased through that crack, I'd find him waiting for me on the other side.

But when I came through, he was a distance ahead. Paying no attention behind him.

Dangerous. I thought worriedly. What if I was Draven seeing what he's up to?